Mental Health Month: Championing Our Children’s Mental Health

A Message From Our CEO

May is Mental Health Month, a time to recognize the importance of taking care of our mental health. This Mental Health Month, we are excited to announce that Integral Care and NAMI Central Texas have partnered up again to create a Mental Health Month Toolkit. With growing concerns over the state of mental health among children and youth, the focus of this year’s toolkit is supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children and youth.

The Children’s Mental Health Toolkit features articles to help parents and caregivers understand children’s mental health, activities to do together, and other tools and resources. The toolkit also includes articles in Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic and Vietnamese.

EXPLORE THE TOOLKIT

This month, I also encourage you to attend some of the great local events that are happening highlighting mental health:

May 4th Mind Matters: Managing Stress & Anxiety in Difficult Times: NAMI Central Texas is kicking off Mental Health Awareness Month by sharing this free, interactive presentation with practical stress and anxiety management tools.
May 6th Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Day: Texas System of Care will be celebrating Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Day with a free, family-friendly festival at the Texas State Capitol on May 6th from 9 to 11am. There will be performances by Roy Lozano’s Ballet Folklórico de Texas, exhibitors from across the state of Texas, and free food and activities. Come say hello to Integral Care at our booth.
May 17th Central Texas Community Mental Health First Aid Training: Mental Health First Aid is a nationally recognized, evidence-based training that provides people the basic tools to help someone who might be developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.
May 17th Together We Will Heal Forum: Don’t miss this month’s Together We Will Heal forum! Mark your calendar for May 17th at 1:30pm. Details to come.
May 18th Speak Up!: An Evening of Creative Expression: Produced by NAMI Central Texas, this event will feature the renowned vocalist and recording artist Courtney Santana, along with a range of musical performances, art exhibits, interactive art, and storytelling, this event promises to be a showcase of creativity, inspiration, and community.
May 23rd Community Virtual Mental Health First Aid Training: Mental Health First Aid training focused on supporting service members, veterans, and their families who might be developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.
May 24th Children’s Mental Health Forum: Join Integral Care and NAMI Central Texas for “The State of Our Children’s Mental Health.”
May 25th Mental Health 101 (Pflugerville): NAMI Central Texas, in partnership with the Pflugerville Public Library, present Mental Health 101. This presentation is a supportive and informative overview of topics such as the definition, treatment, and services for individuals and loved ones with mental health conditions.
Month-long Coffee Shop Conversations: Self-Care Bingo: NAMI Central Texas will be hosting multiple events in Austin, Bastrop, Georgetown, Marble Falls, Dripping Springs throughout the month of May. Indulge in delicious pastries and grab a cup of coffee as you play a game that will not only entertain you but will also equip you with valuable tools for self-care.

Austin Public Health, Integral Care, and Travis County, are also launching a community-wide Children’s Mental Health Awareness Campaign later this month. Keep an eye out for more tools and resources to help support the mental health of our children and youth.

Good mental health is foundational to health and well-being. We hope this year’s toolkit and these events are helpful in supporting you and your family’s mental health this month and beyond. As always, please remember that Integral Care provides free, immediate emotional support 24/7. No problem is too small. Call us anytime – day or night – at 512-472-HELP (4357).

David Evans
Chief Executive Officer

Transparencies Archive

Past Transparencies sorted by year

2023

January 2023: Celebrating the 23rd Annual Central Texas African American Family Support Conference

February 2023: Honoring Black History Month

March 2023: Supporting the Needs of People Living with IDD

April 2023: Caring for the Caregivers: National Counseling Awareness Month

2022

December 2022: Looking Ahead to the 88th Legislative Session

November 2022: Supporting Children’s Mental Health

October 2022: Working Toward Racial Equity

September 2022: Coming Together on the Road to Recovery & Suicide Prevention

August 2022: Expanding Access to Critical Mental Health Support

July 2022: Supporting BIPOC Mental Health through Data

June 2022: Celebrating Pride Month

April-May 2022: Looking Ahead to Mental Health Month

March 2022: Honoring Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

February 2022: Strengthening Our Network of Mental Health Support

January 2022: Looking Ahead in 2022

2021

December 2021: Celebrating Progress & Innovation in 2021

November 2021: Action Steps Toward Preventing and Ending Homelessness

October 2021: Language Access & Racial Equity

September 2021: Treatment & Addiction Psychiatry at Integral Care

August 2021: Returning to School plus the Legislative Wrap-up

July 2021: Creating Lasting Change for BIPOC Mental Health

June 2021: Facts & Resources This Pride Month

May 2021: Mental Health Month

April 2021: How do we help Austinites experiencing homelessness?

March 2021: Growth and Positive Change

February 2021: How Do We Create a Better Future?

January 2021: Looking Ahead to the Legislative Session

2020

December 2020: Supporting Your Mental Health This Winter

November 2020: How do we rebuild health and well-being during a pandemic?

October 2020: With Collaboration Comes Innovation

September 2020: Success Stories of Recovery and Suicide Prevention

August 2020: A Back to School Season Like Never Before

July 2020: Minority Health Disparities & COVID-19

June 2020: Stronger Together

May 2020: Surviving and Thriving During Uncertain Times

April 2020: Persevering During COVID-19

March 2020: Collaborations and Initiatives to Improve Health for the IDD Population

February 2020:Solutions to Health and Health Care Disparities

January 2020: Sucicide Prevention a Local Effort

2019

December 2019: A Year of Thriving Care & Collaboration

November 2019: Teamwork and Collaboration Impact Homelessness in Travis County

October 2019:Making Strides for World Mental Health

September 2019: Taking Steps to Recovery Support

August 2019: Working Together for Child & Youth Mental Health

July 2019: Legislative Wrap-Up – Some Bipartisan Wins for Healthcare

June 2019: Strengthening Access for Veterans and the Entire Military Family

May 2019: Women and Mental Health

April 2019: Legislative Session Status Report

March 2019: Making Opportunities for Recovery More Accessible

February 2019: Recovery is Possible

January 2019: Stronger Outcomes Through Collaboration

December 2018: Looking ahead to the 86th Texas Legislature

November 2018: How Tech is Changing the Face of Mental Health

October 2018: A Few Questions Could Help Save a Life

September 2018: Anyone Can Save a Life

August 2018: A Milestone Moment

July 2018: Equity in Mental Health Care for All

June 2018: Expanding Services for Veterans

2018

May 2018: Your Mental Health Toolkit

April 2018: Time of Terror Calls for Increased Emotional Support

March 2018: Stopping the cycle of incarceration for individuals with mental illness

February 2018: Equity in mental healthcare for everyone

January 2018 : Improving Mental Health Through Partnership & Collaboration

2017

December 2017: Strength Through Community

November 2017 : Healthy Lifestyles Improve Well-Being

October 2017 : National Child Health Day

September 2017 : Strengthening Families and Communities

Highlight: Children's Mental Health Forum 5/24

In recent years, we’ve seen significant increases in certain mental health disorders in children and youth, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. The COVID-19 pandemic era introduced a new set of challenges for children and youth in the US, but children and teens have been struggling for far longer. Join us on May 24th at noon for a virtual community forum presented in partnership with NAMI Central Texas – “The State of Our Children’s Mental Health.” Our panelists, which include clinicians and parents with lived experience, will discuss some of the factors that are impacting the mental health of our children and youth, signs parents can watch for, how to start the conversation around mental health, and help available for parents and caregivers.

Highlight: Integral Care Receives CCBHC Recertification

In 2016, Integral Care was certified as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), a model of care designed to ensure access to coordinated comprehensive behavioral health care across the system of care. Achieving certification and operating as a CCBHC requires complex clinical and administrative preparation across the organization.

Last fall, we began a 6-month process toward recertification. During that process, Integral Care leadership submitted over 1,000 documents and narratives to HHSC demonstrating adherence to CCBHC criteria and values. Front line and supervisory staff also played critical roles in these efforts by participating in interviews with HHSC reviewers to talk about their experience delivering services in the CCBHC model of care. We are proud to share that Integral Care received the full 3-year recertification from HHSC last week.

Highlight: Welcome Dr. Amanda Banks, Integral Care’s New Chief Equity Officer

Dr. Amanda Banks We are excited to announce that Dr. Amanda Banks has joined Integral Care as Chief Equity Officer. Dr. Banks has over 12 years of experience guiding DEI initiatives across multiple industries. Previously, she has worked with Texas Tech University, Texas HHSC, and Lubbock ISD, among others. Her leadership and depth of knowledge will support Integral Care on our path toward equity, growth, learning, and our work to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment for staff and clients.

“I’m excited to move forward together with our Integral Care family as we cultivate relationships and collaborate to intentionally implement strategies and interventions that strengthen and advance racial equity at Integral Care. My goal is to bring about sustainable change for Integral Care’s staff, clients, and our community.” – Dr. Amanda Banks

Bridging the Gap Sponsor Highlight

“The ECG Foundation has long focused on organizations that foster more equitable quality of life and opportunity across Austin/Travis County. Our city’s unprecedented growth has created huge systemic challenges, leaving many in our area grappling with finding and affording basic life supports. Integral Care, with its broad and critical range of services in mental and behavioral health, crisis intervention, skills-training, and housing, does fundamental, life-changing work in our community every single day. ECG supports Integral Care because they create healthy living for everyone and make our community better, kinder, stronger. It’s part of keeping Austin the place we’re proud to call home.”

“Tejas Health Management is honored to sponsor Integral Care in their mission to serve the Austin Travis County community. Our role as a support organization towards the endeavors of the Community Mental Health Centers of Texas is paramount and key to us. We strive to provide the highest quality of products and services to our partners serving the most vulnerable people in our communities.”